Secret Keeper

Something was off.  She didn’t sound quite right.

I knew this would be one of those months she tried to survive more than thrive.  But still, something seemed a rye.

Her voice quivered and then broke.  I could almost hear her tears.  She had stumbled into a secret that had left her heart-broken.  Before she went any further she said,  I’m not sure I should burden you with the secret.  Maybe, I shouldn’t share.

My friend is wise.

Not every secret should be told.  Not every friend is prepared to guard your heart. Not every friend is prepared to faithfully carry the burden.  Not every friend is a secret keeper.

The bible records in John 2:24-25, But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men.  He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.”

We know Jesus had twelve disciples, but there was something special about three.  He took Peter, James and John to witness the Transfiguration.  Before they left, He told them not to tell anyone what they had witnessed until He had been raised from the dead. (Matt. 17:9)  He loved all His disciples, but He trusted three with a secret.

Jesus used discernment.  We need to be like Him.  We need to carefully consider with whom we will entrust ourselves too.   Who will we allow to journey along beside us?

Inevitably,  the day will come when we will all need someone to help carry our burden and place it at the foot of the cross.  Someone who will listen to our deepest ache and then speak God’s truth and love.  When we are no longer able to remember His promises or pray, they will pray His promises over us.

There are some secrets, some burdens, some hurts which leave us at a loss. The only way to process them is to give them back to Him. To exchange our hurt for His presence. To exchange our burdens for His promises. To exchange our secrets for intimacy with Him.

Maybe this is why God gave us friends.  He knows a friend is uniquely qualified to carry our burdens while simultaneously ushering us into His presence.  There is a friend who will hold our secrets as we process the hurt.  There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.  (Proverbs 18:24)

If by God’s grace I am not the one in need of a friend, Lord teach me to be the friend.  Teach me to be a friend who can be trusted with a secret.  Teach me to be a friend who will weep with those who are weeping.  Teach me to be a friend who loves at all times.  Teach me to listen. Teach me to pray over, for and with the ones I love.  Teach me to be so grounded in your word that when my mouth opens it will be Your words that come tumbling forth.  Teach me to see with spiritual eyes, with wisdom and discernment from above.  Teach me to speak hope.  Teach me to speak love.

If I am not the friend to hold the confidence, teach me to demonstrate love and respect while guarding their heart and privacy.

For those holding onto a secret or a burden…Lord, teach us how to spend more time considering You and Your word than we do worrying about this problem. Open our eyes and give us the courage and strength to walk out what is before us. Teach us to glorify you in the midst of our heartache. For you promise we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.  Phil 4:13

And for the one who broke our hearts.  Lord, we pray you would teach us to see them through your eyes.  Give us hearts of compassion.  Most likely this burden is rooted in a heart that failed to perceive truth or a life scarred by hurt.  Heal every broken place in this person’s heart, soul or mind.  Redeem this wound with a life that will glorify You.  Teach them to love you with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.